NFL Daily with Gregg Rosenthal - What Has Us Shook?

Episode Date: July 20, 2023

In a virtual room filled with heroes - Dan Hazus, Gregg Rosenthal and Nick Shook tell you what has them shook headed into next season. Before the heroes look ahead to next season, they get caught up on news from around the league including Zack Martin possibly holding out on the Cowboys (10:55), the Jets trading Denzel Mims (13:30) and who will be added to the Bengals Ring of Honor (18:00). After the break, find out why Ron Rivera (33:10), the Packers (41:37), running backs (50:10), the Cowboys (57:00) and more have the heroes SHOOK! Note: Time codes approximate. NFL Daily YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/nflpodcastsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an I-Heart podcast. The Around the NFL podcast. Spent too much time in the sun. Welcome to another edition of Around the NFL. I am Dan Hansis. I have a reddish hue to my pale skin tone. Joined as always by a man who always looks a little pale on camera. Greg Rosenthal.

Yeah, I've changed locations. If you watch us on YouTube, you can see my new garage setup, but I still haven't found the correct lighting to give me the color that I truly have. You do get quite dark in the summer there, Danny. I do, I do. Let's see if we can do better,

though. Let's welcome in another man who has to be very careful in the sun. And if you have to be careful in the weight room when he's around you, yes, one of our favorites, the great Nick Shook. What's up, bud? I am wearing a hat because I was not careful in the sun in L.A. last minute. There he is. Shuky. Shooki, who of course is invaluable on our Sunday flagship programs, helping out watching games, talking about them, and that will be coming back

in my goodness, less than two months. And Shook, it's great to have you here. I have to say you come on a great day for the NFL and a great day for commanders fans because yes it's happening it's over today according to pfts and other outlets the owners will vote to approve the sale of the Washington commanders from Daniel Snyder to Josh Harris it's happening there's a vote going down in Indianapolis so it is a bright horizon for the commanders and the F.C. East, heads up, guys, it's about to change because, well, could change. Couldn't be worse, Shook. The commander is about to be free of Snyder. Yeah, I mean, next stop, new stadium. Everything's looking up for them, maybe. We'll see.

But, I mean, to eliminate what was essentially an albatross from then in the form of ownership. It's great. It's fantastic. You don't have to worry about it anymore. Now you can move forward, start the new era. I mean, they could go 6 and 11, and I feel like this is going to be the greatest. year for the Washington franchise since the 90s, like no matter what happens. They might be kind of frisky. Maybe we'll even get to that, but they might be they might be frisky. And as recently as a week ago, there was some thought this could get gummied up and messed up at the last second. So hopefully we're taping this before that official meeting. Hopefully they don't bang us here. But we've celebrated this a few times now.

Yeah. And this time, I think it's going to happen. And it comes a week after, I don't know if you guys talked about it last week, but the ESPN deep dive on House Snyder nearly survived, but made a few crucial missteps in the last couple of years that opened the door for the owners to finally make the move. So Josh Harris is about to take over the commanders, kind of the big news today. And with Nick Shook here, you know, I mentioned Gregie, or I pulled out some of my father's old LP albums on the Monday program. And I thought with Nick here, because Nick, Gregi has, as we say, plays such a vital role on our Sunday night shows. But I think it's important that the audience gets to know Nick more. Do you agree with that, Greg? Yeah. So it's a weird

thing where he's like a relief pitcher that we only bring in during the World Series, like in our biggest, highest octane moments. But for some reason, he doesn't get enough regular. season. I mean, so I'm with you. Emmanuel Class A type. That's, that's, uh, that's, uh, shook to us. Yeah, except I have a slider, not just a cutter and a fastball. And I mean, I have some more breaking stuff, not just 103 miles an hour. So instead, uh, shook of me sharing some of my dad's old records, uh, please share with the audience and us, your top three desert island albums. If you, if you had to take three, um, albums records, uh, with you for the rest of time,

what would they be? What has the time? As anybody has experienced when they've considered this scenario, you need something that has longevity, something that you can listen to no matter of the mood, something that could potentially set the mood, get you through one more day out there on the desert island, right? Yeah. So we're going to go, first off the top of the list, a semi-recent album.

This is Tyler the Creators, I think it was 2017 album, Flower Boy, which is a masterpiece front to back. You can debate me on it all day. It should have won an award. It was nominated. It didn't win the Grammy it deserved because Kendrick Lamar happened to release an album that year, and it went to him. That's his best album, top, front to back. It's fantastic.

I can listen to that at any time. Number two on this list. We're going to come out of the same collective of sorts, the L.A. kids, ego death by the internet, a group that has since gone on to do their own separate things. This is also another great album front to back. All these people on this group, individually talented. This is the same collective that Frank Ocean came from, do not. the internet specifically, but odd future, you know, as a whole. So that's a great album as well, I highly suggest it. And number three, Good Kid Mad City by Kendrick Lamar, his best album,

an album I saw perform live in college because he wasn't big enough to get outside of Kent State back in the day, a fantastic album as well. Tons of bangers on there. Love it. Beautiful choices there, Shook, and perhaps an all-time backfire. For you, Greg, famously, Greg likes rap, and you've had that corner. I mean, I mean, you've been on that corner for this program. And now here comes Shook, not just with, like, basic stuff, but kind of going deep and showing his knowledge of rap and hip hop culture. You're a little upset.

I know impressed probably, but also maybe deep down, it's bothering you a little bit that Shook just dropped a hammer on your race. I mean, I feel like it's bothering you. You're the one that put me on the Greg Likes Rap Corner. You're right. Shook Lakes Rapp more. Why would it bother me? I love it.

There's no way I can go in all three rap albums on my desert list. So I think Shook officially likes rap more. Because he's talking about setting the mood. I mean, set in the mood for what? A little like self-love. If anything, then you want a little variety. You want a little variety. But ego death by who is that again?

Because I'm going to listen to that album. And I'm hoping, even though it hurts that you're taking that corner, that you add to my musical enjoyment this week by listening to some internet. The internet. You'll find that it's not, it's more like, it's almost neo soul not quite there it's a blend between that and hip hop so there's some variety perhaps we learned today that gregg likes rap well we knew that but shook loves rap i do like tyler though i'm a big i like that um that's great let's do some news raven's trying to end it

here fourth down gulton steps up gulton throws it's complete cut by void tyler boyd Touchdown, remarkable. The Cincinnati Bengals have stunned this crowd. Andy Dalton delivers. Yes, we learned on Monday that there's at least one player in the NFL that views Andy Dalton. There's a future Hallfamer. That's my favorite Dalton-Bengels memory, 2017, knocking the Ravens out of the playoffs in Baltimore, putting the bills in for the first time in a couple decades with that miracle

strike at M&T Bank Stadium. Shook, he might not be making the hall, but he'll always have that moment driving a stake through the heart of the Baltimore Ravens as a Browns fan. I'm sure you enjoyed watching that. Yeah, because the bills ended up getting back to the playoffs before the Browns did at that time. The Brown's most recent time was 2002. So understanding the drought and what you go through in the pure joy when you finally get through when somebody else helps you.

It was a great moment. And yeah, if it happens to a division rival, as it did, you know, it just cherry on the top. One little note here is just like, if someone were rude enough to try to make the case against Andy Dalton as the Hall of Famer, you know, if he does come up, I do think you could point out he's 0 and 4 in his four playoff games. The highest his team scored in any of those games was 13 points. He's had one touchdown and six interceptions. and took 12 sacks.

I don't know why I thought the need to do that. I just drew it up and I was like, well, we can't get a better moment than Andy Dalton, but no, actually that was the best moment. That was just totally unnecessary, Greg. What is this,

the basketball hall of fame? It was worse than I thought, though. I was just like, I just thought I'd bring up the old postseason game log. I was like, was it really that bad? And I was like, yeah, it was that bad. Oh, my goodness. You know, I went to just pull up some news on Zach Martin,

the star guard of, the Cowboys, who may be holding out, instead I accidentally pulled up a NFL.com article about Zach Martin joining the 99 club for Madden. I understand that things are slow right now, and they're just starting to pick up. The Jets reported for camp yesterday, speaking of the Browns, shook, MIA, with the opportunity to report, choosing to instead. rest on their laurels on last season's success, apparently. I don't know where you come down on that.

But, yeah, can we calm down with the Madden rankings and using that as news fodder? And listen, we do a podcast throughout the off season. I understand it's hard to come up with content, but Madden video game developers choosing the number and then us doing tons of articles and conversations on it on sports shows. Do we need it? I don't think we need it. I feel like this is planned because I'm here, because this is, my corner, and I'm leading this coverage and working with EA on this.

Like, this is just, I mean, not, not, not, you know. Unintentional shook, but may be important that we're having this conversation. I went out there and played the new game last month in their studios. Oh, no. Yeah, I'll tell you, Dan. It's awkward. We're supporting them. You know, let's get through this awkward moment together.

We're supporting the league's official product, the official licensed video game of the NFL, mad NFL 24, available in August. Whoa. that was weird. He's officially the first guard ever to be 99. Well, this is back to our metric days. It's the same reason why Terrell Prior got a lot of articles. Those Madden articles do great. They do great. The Peyton Hillis, the number of articles written about Peyton Hillis being the Madden Cover Boy in 2012. I have carpal tunnel syndrome from it still. Anyway, six time all pro, eight time pro bowl guard, Zach Martin reportedly unhappy with his current compensation and will consider skipping training camp. according to ESPN's Adam Schaefter, a source also told Schaefter that Martin believes, quote, he is woefully underpaid relative to the market. Shook, you do great work. In addition to your tireless efforts promoting the Madden brand and its yearly product,

you know the meat and potatoes of the game, the trenches better than anyone, is certainly better than us. Tell us about what makes Zach Martin special and whether you think he deserves. more money for what he does. Consistency more than anything. The guy is frequently available, and this is an offensive line that's undergone a ton of changes. Not only that, but he's playing at a high level when he's available throughout his career. Number of all pros, as he just listed, Pro Bowl appearances. Guy gets the 99 rating for a reason in Madden because he is one of the best and has been one of the best for quite some time now. And I think you should pay somebody like that,

especially when you lose your left tackle every other year, you lose your right tackle every other year. You have to shift the offensive line. One guy you don't have to really worry about moving around for, Zach Martin, who's going to always be a good guard. I'd like a little extra, like, drama heading into Oxnard. You know, they always have the, it's like, oh, the Cowboys are getting off their playing in Oxnard. It's a big day here in Southern California. And now, like, there aren't many holdouts anymore in the NFL, but if you're going to

hold out, you can do it when you're like a future Hall of Fame guy who's already made $20 million and you know that the Joneses would never hold it against you. They're never going to actually find him because, and he knows that. And so he's going to skip it if he can. And that offensive line shook has regressed in recent years. It was one of the best in the league. So Martin Zitton more important because he is the anchor there. He doesn't miss much time at all.

He's only missed eight games in his career. So, you know, at a time we'll get to a little bit later, you know, the running backs and that ongoing storyline this summer, use your leverage when you can. And the Cowboys, they'd like, you know, unlike some teams, they sometimes go out of their way to take care of their stars, even if it hurts them in the long term. So I think Martin's probably making the right move, making noise while he can. Yeah, I mean, he's nearing 33. He turns 33 in November.

So, like, there's the time to cash in is now. This is the moment to get your last big contract and, you know, maximize your value and play good football until the wheels fall off because offensive line is one of the toughest positions. And it's, there's a reason that we pay attention to Jason Kelsey and whether it's coming back every year. Yeah, he still plays in an elite level, but he's old. It's hard to stay in the league that long at that position. In other news, Greg, do you remember a.

draft night I want to say the pandemic year I know where you're going with this and yes I do yes my father-in-law a great man raised an incredible woman my wife Emily Bob Bates DDS he retired he came on our program on draft night at the end of the conclusion of the 2020 draft and the Jets had selected wide receiver Denzel Mims out of Baylor and And my father-in-law was raving about Denzel Mims and his abilities and his production while with the Bears down there in Waco and said he'd be a star. And I have to, I have to connect with G. Bob for official comment on this. It never worked out for the Jets. He's totaled only 42 catches for 676 yards without a touchdown in three years.

And yet, because of his pedigree, second round pick, he stuck around, well, no longer. The Jets moved him in a trade. to the Detroit Lions, the Lions sent a conditional six-rounder for the Jets' seventh rounder in 2025 per rap sheet. And we learned today that the Jets, or the Lions only have to pay up their draft pick, that conditional pick, if MIMS makes the team, which is no guarantee. So Denzel Mims joins the lions, but we'll see if he makes the team and the Jets' wide receiver room continues to evolve. Yeah, Lesser remembered for good. reason on that night was was me supporting your boy Bob Bates I can call him your boy can

you call your father-in-law your boy I would not call it seems a little yeah overly chummy he's more a figure of respect right I if I if I called Watanavi son that actually I may no longer be in the family you bring great disgrace to the family I supported him on this Denzel mim's take I like Denzel mims coming out of college I should have known Baylor wide receivers coming out of college for whatever reason, it just hasn't worked. I hope Tyquan Thornton breaks that streak for the Patriots,

but so far not so good. Corey Coleman was kind of a bust. There was one more or two. I guess Josh Gordon should have been good. Player. I hate, my least favorite thing about stories like this is everyone being like,

hey, you got to hand it to Joe Douglas. You got to hand it to, he always gets some value. Are you sure that's really a thing? That seems a little strong, that is really out there? He got the, a sixth to seventh round pick

is nothing. It doesn't matter. I mean, it's fine. It's better than not getting anything, but it's as little as you can get. Once you get in the middle of those draft, they're trading those like seventh round picks around like Pez dispensers. It doesn't matter. Isn't it fun that a Jets team that was lacking for receivers just a few years ago is now just jettisoning receivers in the offseason left and right because they've upgraded. They're better now. They don't need those guys that didn't produce immediately. Well, I hope Corey Davis actually sticks. That's my one thing I want to say. And this makes sense. I'd say that I'd say that I have, you know, concerns that Elijah Moore reaches his potential in Cleveland.

It's certainly possible. He's very talented. So I would say I'm a little worried about that. I'm not so worried about Mims teaming up with Jared Goff to wreak havoc in Motown. But we shall see. The Steelers doing some business. Alex Highsmith had a breakout season in 2022, and the Steelers have agreed to terms with the pass rusher on a four-year $68 million extension.

Wrapsheet reported on Wednesday. The team later confirmed the news. Highsmith was entering the final year of his rookie deal in 2023. And now, Shook, he is among the top highest paid pass rushers in the NFL. Your thoughts on Highsmith and the move. 14 and a half sacks in a year in which he operated largely without T.J. Watt. That's pretty good numbers. This is a guy who, I think, had the raw ability and needed to just kind of acclimate and

get a full NFL body. He looked really good at the combine and given the opportunity to really show off his skills without Wad on the other side, he performed. He produced, and now they're going to get Watt back, and we got two really good edge rushers, so they're going to pay him as such, because, again, they're not paying a quarterback, so they have a little bit more money to spend.

I do like when teams have, like, a consistent profile, and them having two great outside linebacker edge rushers has basically been the story of the Steelers for most of the last 15 years, and Highsmith steps right in. I feel like not a lot of people know him. He got better and better every year. Wasn't that, you know, highly touted coming

out of college. And last year was awesome. And finally in the news, yes, I went with an Andy Dalton highlight for the news drop today. Perhaps Chad Johnson deserves love too. He was a big time performer for Cincinnati in the previous decade. Dalton loved thrown to Chad Johnson or Chad Ocho Cinco. And he will be inducted into the team's ring of honor on September 25th. The team announced Thursday. Also being inducted is Boomer Asiason, former league MVP, nearly took the team to an incredible upset victory over the 49ers in Super Bowl 23, frankly, and I love Boomer. He went to the Jets. He was declining at that time, but he was a fun player to watch and

a real New York guy grew up in Long Island and West Hempstead. I don't know why he wasn't in the ring of honor already. I don't know if there was some heat between Cincinnati and Boomer at some point, but both men go in to two rock-solid editions, Greg, because Johnson and Boomer, are very memorable players in their respective errors. Yeah, I'm like, is there a backstory? If I'm, if I'm, uh, if I'm boomer Asiason, I'm almost annoyed that like I'm going in the same time as Chad Johnson, I think, I think it does have to do with Asiason asked for a trade out of Cincinnati, you know, that like he, he forced his way out.

He set the playbook that Carson Palmer would later follow and grumbled a little bit about ownership. So it took a while, but it's good to see. I have some info. just so we're this is very Cincinnati as well although of course they've kind of gotten their act together now if they have a potential ring of honor quarterback in his prime right now but Cincinnati didn't even establish their ring of honor until 2020 so okay maybe boomer should have been part of the first class or whenever that was but yeah that or 2020 but yeah he got in in one of the first group so I guess we could stand down a little bit I was going to say it felt like Burroughs arrival woke up the Bengals to the fact that they're in NFL first franchise, and they've been steadily improving their clubs since then. They renamed their stadium with, you know, they've got the corporate dollars. They're building the practice facility.

Now they're doing the Ring of Honor. You know, they're getting up to speed now. One of my favorite parts of this, and it makes me feel a little old that like Chad Johnson is old enough to do this because I do think people remember him more for changing his name and the touchdown celebrations and kind of forget he had about seven seasons where he had Hall of Fame production. I think he's a legit Hall of Fame conversation. He'll probably be on the edge, but like 1,300-yard type seasons year after year.

But this also reminded me that Corey Dillon absolutely destroyed Mike Brown like two weeks ago for not being part of the Ring of Honor. I don't know if he knows they just started it a few weeks ago. We're all catching up on this. He called it BS and he was very upset about being held out of there. He said, I'm pretty sure they will put Fing John Kittna in there before they, they put me. Matter of fact, Scott Mitchell will end up in that mother effer before I do. That was Corey Dillon a few weeks ago. Well, if you talk like that. I appreciate it.

Why challenge a team to hold you out? I'm going to name some guys. This is good stuff here from the athletic Paul Denner Jr. who has been on the show, I believe. Correct? Yeah. Yep. Back in the day. Yeah. Here are some guys if they're assuming Cincinnati goes with two guys a year in the ring of honor. names that are out there. Corey Dillon, obviously, but it might have to simmer down a little bit. This is for Chris Wessling's brothers back in the west side of Cincinnati. Jim Breach, James Brooks, Chris Collinsworth, David Fulcher, Tim Crumry, Dave Lapham, Max Montoya, Lamar Parrish, Bob Trumpy, Reggie Williams. All will remain from the original list of nominees. Those are some guys, capital S, capital G. I'm thinking T.J. Hussman Zata might make it in

there? I don't know. Maybe. Not yet on the list, but will be on the list eventually when they hit whatever, you know, maybe it's five years like the Canton Hall. They moved the second facade within the stadium where they put the names on. Right. Gino Atkins, AJ Green, Andrew Whitworth, uh, all feel like future additions, but they are not eligible yet. So we have, we have you totally covered on the Cincinnati Bengals ring of honor beat. I'm glad we threw it out there. Six straight 1100 yard seasons. And most, of those four of those were over 1300 yards that that's pretty good judge yeah and and boomer was uh unbelievable in 1988 uh he won league MVP and i still yes i still picture his final pass of

the dan rino fake spike game going through the back of the end zone or through the uprights a giant stadium kind of rubber stamped like his legacy in new york being the qb of that team in that game uh however you know it worked out for boomer who's a fantastically successful successful radio guy in New York and obviously gets paid a lot by CBS as well. Boomer's doing all right. All right. We're doing all right. Let's take a break.

And we'll be right back. All right. Welcome back to around the NFL. This is our last remote show. I'm in Jersey. I'm in Jersey. That's my Springsteen. Greg back in California.

Shook in Ohio. um we'll all be back next week i i've booked by the way greggie one of our favorite guests and one of my favorite segments will we'll be back uh connor or will be joining us next week for team slogans for two thousand twenty three so make make sure you're there for that everybody that's big monday yeah in the studio sess and i guess we assume sessler's you know will return from his family trip but you never know it's just an assumption and uh as you might expect. The Hard Knocks podcast will also be returning in a couple of weeks that just so happens that the New York Jets are the team. So it kind of works out nicely there for Zeus are getting

an entire sub podcast series based off coming off the around the NFL tree. Connie and I will be doing weekly recaps every Tuesday and we'll be doing a preview show that's going to land soon. So that's exciting. Housekeeping. Finally, this is the Nick Shook episode this summer. And We're getting to know, Shook. We have a segment that's playoff his name, which is just spicy as hell, Greggy, whenever you can play off one of the great last names in the industry. But before we get to that, we heard his three Desert Island albums, very hip-hop heavy. He loves rap.

Greg likes it. Shook loves it. That's been noted. Now it's time for Shook's three favorite sitcoms of all time. Now, what era are we going? We go in all-time Shuki? We're going retro era decades? Tell me what you got.

No, we followed your suggested format of 90s, 2000s, and 2010s. And there's going to be a little bit of blurring of the lines here because some of these have been running for quite some time and could, you know, encompass multiple decades. But starting with the 90s, what choice is there other than Seinfeld? One of the greatest sitcoms of all time dominated the decade. Incredible ratings in the final episode. People were watching it in Times Square when they had C-T, TVs that were jumbo-trons and big squares.

It was great. It's a great show. I still watch it all the time. And Shook, you're significantly younger by, I think, like a decade of Greg and I, something like that. I remember that night, specifically when Seinfeld went off the air in May of 98, I had a baseball game. I was a high school senior, and everybody was, like, racing back from the baseball game to get home to watch the finale of Seinfeld.

and it was, you know, not the best, but it was a very, looking back, it's very hard to close out a show like that with that amount of hype around the finale. But I also remember Frank Sinatra died that night. And it was like this huge cultural moment where maybe the greatest entertainer of the 20th century. I think you just broke the news to Shook based on the look on his face. Frank Sinatra's dead. Who was Frank Sinatra? Sinatra dies the same day Seinfeld ends, which is.

is the last great sitcom of the 20th century. That's, you know, it was a big day. Harrowing news from the ABC Newswire. I love that you threw that out there, but it does remind me of one of my all-time favorite, or are you kidding me, segments where Connor just spent 10 minutes destroying Seinfeld saying that it was overrated, that it was terrible, and that people like yourself.

And I'm always shocked, our friend Sean Kelly, who's one of the production people at NFL, who's in his mid-20s, huge Seinfeld thing. I'm almost surprised how much it's connected with the youth. I think it's a bit of a tired take. And I've gone after Connor every once in a while when his take seemed just designed to shock and awe. Going after Seinfeld is not being as good as people say it.

I mean, I feel like just people showing their ass and not realizing what that show was doing and how different it was in its era. That's my two cents on it. I mean, he's no Skip Bayless, though. He believed it. That's why I loved it. All right, number two, Shook.

Number two, we go to the 2000s, and although it is still running because it came back, a cousin of Seinfeld, curb your enthusiasm. Okay. It's great show. It's kind of cheating going with both, I think. Yeah, kind of the same genre, basically. Yeah, yeah.

It's kind of a spin-off in a way, really? Yeah. Kind of. I'm a genre. guy this show gives me a lot of anxiety because i don't like conflict that much and uh so i can't watch it before bed like i do watch seinfeld but when i'm not going to bed i enjoy it very much great show probably should probably should go away now but it's it's fine he right larry david could do whatever he wants i feel like it's the ultimate um i don't think this was the intent but it's

like people fight over credit a little bit everyone wants their credit like different coaches want credit. Larry David doing curb sort of was the ultimate like, I'm going to go win five Super Bowls on my own when I won three with you and prove who was the real. There is, there are some Brady Belichick parallels with Brady to the Bucs being curb your enthusiasm. Which is crazy because if you think about it, Seinfeld would be Brady and Belichick would be Larry David. You know, going literally. Number three. And finally. Number three, the 2010s. This is a show that actually started in the 2000s, and I watched this from when I was in high school, and I still watch it. It's always sunny in Philadelphia.

Now, this show has lost some steam in recent years, and this new season right now, it's hit or miss. One episode is hilarious, another episode I could do without. But the earlier seasons were premier, just top-notch stuff that, like Seinfeld was doing something different in the 90s, always sunny was doing something very different when they first came around and with no money for a long time, and it has remained very popular. I like this because I understand your sensibilities now. And it is a great choice.

I do agree. I love the early years, especially when the show, in addition to all the characters being grimy, look grimy. It just looked cheap. And now when I stumble upon a recent episode, I'm taken aback by how they all kind of look like TV stars and the lighting is better. But it's followed that always sunny, excuse me, it's followed the curb format. In fact, I think in an interview, one of the guys said, like, one of the tenants of the show continuing as long as it has been is like, Larry Dave was like, you don't have to end it. You can just keep things going. You could take a couple of years off.

Don't have to end a show. Do it as long as you want. I saw a recent episode, the Chuckie Cheese type episode, which I was funny as hell. So they still have, they could reach back and hit 92 on the gun every once in a while. but peak always sunny yeah that i'll laugh my ass off on that show i like how they stay topical too like they even made an episode related to the uh chess cheating scandal that happened last year where frank ends up getting inserted uh into the chess tournament and uh yeah it's just hilarious still hilarious Greg we're learning about him I I we need to do this more all right with that said

segue segue we learned that he liked F1 by the way everyone should check out his um that His podcast that combines football and F1, the grid iron podcast, which I have to admit, Shook, I've seen you promote on Instagram and everyone. And I thought it was a combined football weightlifting podcast. And that the Iron Men, because you guys, you know, you're a big guy. I don't know about your co-host. So I thought that's a weird angle, the weightlifting football podcast. F1 makes more sense to me. It's a new segment idea.

Why not? Let's incorporate that as well. How about this? How about this? You're knowledgeable in all three fields. So grid represents F1, pumping. That would be the weightlifting component. And then iron for football.

Grid pumping iron. That's just keep on drawing this out and adding elements of the show. It's a three header. Grid pumping, sizzling iron. We get cooking involved. You know, just keep going, going and going until it's a giant mouthful that you can never get out. All right, Nick Shook has a great name, a great last name.

So we just built an entire segment on it with training camp and a new season upon us. It's time for us to share what has a Shook in the NFL right now. And Greg, it's a... I think it's pretty self-explanatory, like things that are just gnawing at us a little bit, things that have us a little nervous, perhaps? You're nervous about certain things as the season kicks off? I feel like Shook's last name has been the subject of many different segments. Like, I've seen it on NFL Network.

But none are better than what else is Shuck. This was there the whole time, Shook. You could have taken it. You blew it. Yeah, good morning football. If you want to have Nick on, there's a freebie for you. I don't have any agency over my name. In fact, I just push people away from using my name because this is the first reply.

I say something on Twitter, I'm shook. Would you say that that left me? Super annoying. But here it's fine. All right, great. And again, sorry about the cross-contamination with your Madden business relationship. That was totally unintentional. You know how many emails I'm going to have to send now, Dan?

Get everybody back in the good graces. All right. So why don't we get it started with Nick Shook? What has you shook about the NFL right now as we enter a new season? Maybe I'm just off base. Maybe I'm out of touch. But I find it hard to believe that Ron Rivera would tie his future in the NFL as a head coach to a quarterback who played just one game as a rookie last year. That seems to be the prevailing wisdom. And if that actually does happen, I'll be sure. because, quite frankly, you couldn't choose a less stable way to go about trying to keep your job, especially with Jacoby Brissette on the roster. I mean, that's why you go sign the guy, right? Security.

He went and played pretty well in Cleveland last year in a team that was in flux. This team has talent at receiver, has talent at running back. Still pretty talented up front as well. Why not go with the veteran when this could be your last year? Don't be the savior, Ron. Save yourself. It has been a little surprising. that coming out of the off-season workouts

that there doesn't seem to be a battle. It's one of the few big surprises of the OTA season that actually they gave Jacoby percent all that money more than any other backup in the market got and that he's not going to get a chance to compete. But I'm not shook about this. I like it. All right.

Yeah, I am. I'm definitely shook about it. Talked about it on this show. It seems like Ron is just in a vulnerable place We led the show today, obviously talking about the sale of the franchise and the inevitable transition and that comes with new ownership. And I feel like Ron is kind of in a no-win situation here, unless something really unexpected happens, like Howell plays his ass off. That's like the, is that the only way Ron keeps his job here? They got to howell plays his ass off surprises a lot of people and they have a winning record.

Otherwise, you just, I just assume that they're going to want a totally clean slate. after, you know, no organization's been dirtier than the commanders than this team. So they're going to want to start over unless to hell marry, maybe. I think they got to make the playoffs with a new owner. You have to make the playoffs. It's his year four. I think it's a decent looking roster. I did the NFC East preview, actually, with Mina Kimes on her podcast.

People should check that out. And like, I went back to watch that, that Howell start. a little bit of his precede. I know it was just one start, but I'm very intrigued. I think he went through his reads quickly. I think he passes the baseline of NFL quarterbacks, which is if you protect him, he's going to be fine. And then I think he has the plus traits that you don't see necessarily out of like a Desmond Ritter, certainly.

Like that one start he made, getting to his second read really quickly quite a lot of times. And then we know he can run. He's a little smaller that worries you that he runs too much. But he can run and he can throw a very, pretty go ball like there's some plus traits i'm excited to watch it it's made me more excited to watch the commanders than i have it's such a i get it it's good and obviously it's good to to watch a tape but one game is such a small sample size that you know the opponent how they could in the preseason two i would say like yeah i know it's not that much but i'm but i'm saying that one game i was thinking about i went

back and looked at i did little grading the qb index stuff and it's like it was probably better than any start. Daniel Jones made his rookie year or like Drew Locke made his rookie year. I was trying to think of like mid-level quarterbacks and like it was a really good performance. That's all. All right. But go ahead. If you're, if you're worried about your job, it's such a risky play. And with new ownership, you can almost guarantee that you're gone unless like you guys said, you make the playoffs, putting, riding with that. I mean, you're being the caretaker of the club that's probably not going to keep you around if you're just trying to develop this guy. If I was Eric B. Enemy, I'd be a little shook too, that this is his big change.

but I think they think they're going to win with runny in defense. We'll see. It's kind of similar this topic, so this will be a good seg. Part of me likes, like, if I'm a Bucks fan, part of me likes their decision to not say, oh, well, Tom's gone now. Tom, by the way, you know, he lost $30 million in the collapse of FTX, 30 million. And I know he's got a lot of money. But he's also, you know, getting divorced or just got divorced, like $30 million. That hurts.

I think that is a level that is a significant amount of pain for Tom Brady. Okay, I don't know how rich you have to be for that not to hurt. I'll tell you what. If you called me and said, you just lost $30 million to say, I'd be shook. Would it be enough for Tom? Maybe to end up playing another year. It's the only way for Tom Brady to make $30 million like that is just to play one more season in the NFL. I don't know.

It doesn't matter. Or it does, we'll see. But the Bucks did make this decision not to just start over post Brady. And I don't necessarily agree with it. But at the same time, if you're a Bucks fan, you look at this division, the NFC South, they say, all right, I can talk ourselves into this. But what has me shook is the pivot. I don't think Baker Mayfield could play at this level in a consistent basis.

I kind of thought that for a couple years and sometimes he'll drop a game that will get you excited and he does have that sizzle and that there's a cue rating with Baker that I think far exceeds his abilities as a quarterback. So I'm shook if I'm a Bucks fan that like you do this, you bring back Bowls who obviously I think needs to make the playoffs this year and you bring back a lot of the veterans on defense

and you keep Godwin and Mike Evans when you probably could have started looking toward the future and made some trades this offseason potentially. And now it's Baker, and if Baker falls on his face like he has every year the last three or four years, it's Kyle Trask, a second round pick who you're obviously not too fond of or high on at this point based on some decisions they've made, I just, you know, I'd be a little shook of I'm a Bucks fan.

Happy that we're not, you know, tanking, but a little concerned about the overall plan and what Todd Bowles can do with a quarterback like that. I think the circumstances that give the Buccaneers fans hope with this. situation like, oh, Baker just needs to be like average and we have enough talent around him to win is the same circumstances that leave me shook, which is that if he's not that guy, everything's falling apart. I mean, cleaning house top to bottom. That was what would leave me very worried going to the season. No longer can Tom Brady protect you. And he did his best to protect you last year and you barely got to the finish line. I mean, it was a rough year. I can't imagine

it's going to be any better this time around. It's a tough scene. And perhaps like you said, Dan before long, they're going to be starting over. I'm surprised they're the odds makers most likely team to finish in the cellar in that division by far. Like it's the other three, the Falcons and the Saints especially are way ahead of them. I don't see it that way, but I do totally agree with you, Dan, because I look at it, like which teams potentially are going to be eyesores for me personally, like four or five weeks into the season that I'm like getting tired of watching them?

them. And it would be a bummer to be watching like a one and four bucks team with Baker and Todd Bowles is miserable and all these guys who won Super Bowls are just like slogging through a bad season. They, they are high up there on the like potential unwatchable teams. So I hope I hope they at least can just like stay mediocre. Yeah. And you know, I know Brady finally did regress last season. And I would say like, I don't know if you guys agree, but the last season of Tom Brady. if that was. He was maybe a replacement level or a touch above because of obviously his genius knowledge of how the quarterback position is played and he still had an arm. It just, it wasn't happening. But remember how much of a slog they were to watch with Brady at a lesser level or closer a league average level. Now, if you took this team and gave them a below average or a maybe even a bottom five quarterback room, yeah, this could get very grim. So I, I, I am shook. I'm officially shook, Nick Shook.

Two for two. All right. Gregi, you're up. Okay. I'm shook that the Packers are behind the bears in the preseason odds. I'm leaning hard on the preseason odds. I'm shook that the expectation is that the bears are going to be much better and that the Packers are this disaster team that's going to be in the cellar there.

Not like the odds are too different, but this makes no sense to me. not just like looking at which team has won more games over the last two or three years, although, like, I think that's a factor. Like a lot of the same players are there on both teams. But just looking at Green Bay's defensive roster is money. I think the coaching staff, the offensive coaching staff is money. I think the offensive line is a little boom or bust, but it could be really, really good.

And it's just like all on the quarterback combined with the Bears lost a lot of close games last year, but I think they have a long way to go still on their defense. I want Justin Fields to be good. I hope he's good. But the optimism I've seen from Bears fans this offseason where they just, they think it's all happening right now worries me a little bit. It has me shook that they're going to be disappointed, and especially for the rest of the division who thinks, okay, Aaron Rogers is finally gone. Like we can finally do our thing. I don't know, man. I think Jordan Love has a chance to be good. And more importantly, the rest of the roster is good and they're they are not going into the seller i'm shook yeah for as much as we depend on

quarterback and value quarterback in this league at the same time if your team around it is around that quarterback is much better i think you have a better shot i mean we've seen teams go win super bowls with you know average quarterbacks it granted that was a while ago but it's it happens i'm not saying they're going to win a super bowl but the bears were not a good football team last year they had an exciting quarterback but they had a lot of you know ground to make up and one exciting offseason of moves and suddenly the optimism is you know at a fever pitch and Chicago, I'm right there with you, Greg. I am also shook at, by the fact that Bears fans,

I mean, maybe they just need a reason to get get up for the season, but it's not going to be an overnight success, at least not in my opinion. And in comparison to the Packers, I think that's going to be a tough, tough frog to leap. We are all in lockstep on this one because one of my possibilities here, if it hadn't been brought up, was me, comma,

and Bears fans, comma, are over our skis with the Justin Field type. Because you can, and I'm sure you, you guys have seen it as well. If you read about this team, you could pop the hood on a lot of fields of stats and beyond the playmaking, there are, there's reasons to be concerned about his development as a passer. And I know he's out there in the media now and, you know, Eric Kramer, fucking Eric Kramer has the team record for yardage in a season, 3,800 yards.

And fields are saying, oh, yeah, I'm breaking that this year, 4,000 yards. I'm being the first Chicago Bears quarterback in history to do that. that we kind of have to see it. We have to see that development from that side of the game. We also have to see him stay healthy. He plays a very physical brand of football, obviously. So while I am in on the Bears, maybe I know the Lions are kind of the favorite in the division. And the Packers, I agree, are kind of overlooked right now as a team that has a real chance to come out of that division on top.

While I see the Bears could be the team that has the biggest jump, win-loss record, there's also another side of this. And we can't ignore everything that we. we've seen with Fields and only study on the electrifying side of his game. Yeah, our friend Adam Rank is, you know, a big Bears guy. Had them going 12 and 5 on his NFL Networks. That's what I mean. It's like, just be careful.

You're setting yourself up here. All right, Chuck. Give us another one, bud. All right. I am shook by the idea of playing a Super Bowl in Las Vegas. Oh. I'm shook by the challenge it will be. not to not have a good time

but to not have too much of a good time for some of the folks that will be involved in the Super Bowl week of festivities. You know, in the last year... You're including yourself? No, no, come on now. I'm a mature adult and a professional, but I don't know if everybody else that's around the Super Bowl

is going to be, it's going to be a madhouse. I mean, bottom line, it's going to be crazy. Everything's going to be condensed. You know, we're not going to be all spread out like you were in the Phoenix area last year, like you were in Miami. It's all right there. And I don't know, man. I don't know.

I just some interesting things have happened since pro sports have moved to Vegas, putting a Super Bowl there. It's going to be quite a spectacle. But behind the scenes, I don't know. All right. Well, we got through the draft last year without incident. Obviously, that's a different vibe, far less parties and things of that nature. I have to, I have to be honest with you guys. Well, a little bit of personal news, family news.

My father injured his Achilles a couple weeks ago and needed to. undergo surgery so keith um is you know down right now and he's got a rehab in front of him and you know the super bowl's in february and you know my team that i love is oh all right and here i am thinking if the jets ever made the super bowl in my lifetime i am not um not watching that game without my dad by my side and i'm thinking about my dad's rehab and i'm counting about my dad's rehab and I'm counting the months, and I'm saying, okay, is this even, is this, am I jinxing the Jets by even trying to figure out my dad's rehab, uh, killy schedule and, and February? I just got to get key to, to Vegas if it ever happened, the unthinkable.

So that was, that has me shook, that, that whole situation. I'm less worried about the things you're worried about, shook, but, uh, I hope everyone is responsible. I mean, you're not a father shook yet, but this really shows that you will be a good dad, Nick, because, uh, you know, you think about these things. Get the bet on time, kids. You need to get him like flock, by the way. Like one of those things that you put on the wall,

a countdown by the second to kickoff. Feel better, Keith. I didn't know that. I know he's going to have a heroic recovery in time for this Jet Super Bowl. What a story that would be. I mean, he's the real hero here of the around the NFL podcast. That would be an amazing plot line. I'm not as worried about the Vegas,

but just because it's going to be crazy and I'm all about Nick, Like at this point, not saying we've done everything, but we've been to a lot of Super Bowls. And this seems so different from any Super Bowl that we've ever done, that that excites me. But I also hear you that six, seven nights in Vegas feels like too much, probably. Yeah, it's twice the recommended maximum. For anyone. And this is the year, actually, I promised Walker that he would make his first one. It's close enough.

You know, they can get there quickly. So my son will, I hope, see his first Super Bowl in Las Vegas. That's beautiful. Yeah, we're getting old Greg and our kids are starting to grow up. I've thought about that myself, about when we're fortunate enough to be able to take people to the Super Bowl when the games occur. That's cool. All right. Now, I'm up.

One more for me. I'm a little bit shook that the report that came out that the Jets have banned. from filming cuts on hard knocks. In general, I'm a little shook about hard knocks in the future of hard knocks, but I'm not going to go down that road. Have any team ever done that in the path? I think there are the teams that may be more on the, it wasn't kind of reported because this has become like the story around the season

is that the team doesn't want to do it. So I think there's more reporting around the, this season for that reason. But I think it's definitely been deemphasized, but not entirely. eliminated for the most part and uh we mentioned chad johnson uh one of the most memorable hard knocks um and it's a an unfortunate storyline around his nflbler career uh but when chad ochosenko with the dolphins during the joe philbman era was on that show and he got arrested for a domestic violence

incident uh they have the cameras in camp uh when philman and jeff ireland i believe it was let Johnson go, and it was obviously an emotionally charged moment for this great player who was seeing his career end in an unceremonious fashion. I don't know if his career actually ended there, but his Dolphins career ended. That will not be part of things in hard knocks. But I guess what really has me shook is all these running backs reportedly on a group text chat, talking about revenge or plotting some type of, to borrow a cesslerism, kudatea, against an NFL that has turned its back on them and financially penalized them for the position they play. On Monday's program, we talked about the franchise tag deadline for long-term deals, and sure

enough, Josh Jacobs, the NFL rushing leader last year, a truce titan of the position. talks never even came close between the Raiders and Jacobs. The Giants and Saquan Barclay talks stalled over a report out there. There's a $2 million difference, but the Giants said, no, we're walking away from this. We're just not going to do it. Players like Derek Henry and Austin Echler had extremely pointed commentary on Twitter, and then there was that report that there was.

all conspiring on a text chain. Wouldn't you like to be on that? Let's listen to Sequin Barkley, by the way, just to give you an idea of how upset these running backs are. And I know Greg Pooh-pooed the whole thing on Monday and said, you know, they're damn millionaires. So why don't say that? I just was like, this is, this storyline has gotten a lot of airtime. That's all. I think it's deserved it. I think it's a very, a just cause that these running backs are are speaking out on because it is bonkers to me the point that it's gotten to. Anyway, here is Sequin talking about his situation

on the Money Matters podcast. I could say, fuck you to the Giants. I could say fuck to my teammates and be like, you want me to show you my work? You want to show you how valuable I am to the team? I won't show up. I won't play down. And that's a play I can use.

Anybody knows me. That's not something I want to do. But like, it's something that has it something that crossed my mind? It's like I never thought I would ever do. that but like now i'm in a point where it's like jesus like i i might have to take it to this level and like am i willing am i prepared to take it to the level i don't know i don't think barclay will hold out i think he's even saying it there like because he's not uh he's not willing to do that

to his teammates um and and disappear for a long stretch or the whole season and we saw with levy on bell what happens sometimes or potentially if you walk away for a year Greg, pro football talk, your old boss Florio had a good post about what actual, what can running backs do? And he pointed out that a holdout after year three, if you're coming off year three, is really your only chance because you're far enough away where it can't be a situation where they're going to look to tag you after year four or year five if you're a first round pick. And if you're coming off that big third year, Zeke Elliott was able to turn that into an extension. Barkley, to use him as an example, that's when he tore his ACL. So he had no leverage. He wasn't able to do that.

So if you have a big third season, you could turn that into a payday. Otherwise, once they get you to the end of that first contract, they're just going to play ball like this with you, whether you like it or not. It's just become the way the league is being run business-wise. Right. I mean, I think Jacobs and Barclay are in Pollard, to a lesser degree, are interesting examples of that. They didn't have that leverage. They had up and down careers coming off year three.

Like that's, I don't think it's overheated. I think it's an interesting conversation. But like Joe Mixen, Dalvin Cook, Alvin Camara, all those guys actually did get paid because they were consistently at a high level. And when you look at the salaries or running backs, they're similar still.

Like even though they've stagnated, they're in the ballpark of tight ends and safeties. It's like no one, no one's crying for the same. safety market, getting overlooked in free agency every year. And that kind of makes sense to me that those three positions would be a little lower. The problem is, and I hope all this attention raises light to it, is in the CBA. And that, like, I don't think the rookie contracts, the way it's structured, how you're stuck

on the team and how low those rookie contracts are is probably unfair in general, but it's especially unfair to running backs because that's when their career's peak. And I do think there's probably something that could be revisited. But unfortunately, for the players, it's not for a long time. They, like, agreed to this CBA, and it's a totally different NFL than it was before this rookie wage sale came in. And I think the rookie wage scale was so far in one direction for the top players that they probably overcorrected. And it's almost insane how great a value any rookie is on a rookie contract and especially running backs who burn out quickly. Yeah, I think about, you know, you talk about that year three mark.

I think about a Devante Freeman. You know, he drafted in 14, extended in 17, and the Falcons regretted it shortly thereafter. I mean, there's been enough lessons in the last decade or so. Right. Cook didn't get to the end of that contract. These running backs usually don't. Neither did Zeeke, obviously. Yeah, yeah.

And Gurley kind of a similar case as well. Neither did Mixen, for that matter. He just got, he had to take a pay cut. Yeah. So it's really tough to be a running back. And this is very Legion of Doom, though, this text chain. I like this. I like them sitting around and speaking with, you know, I don't know, lawyers or,

we're all going to because by the time that CBA comes up they're done but maybe they're going to pass it on the next generation and get their angst out in the meantime um and Derek Henry who did get that second contract with the Titans and by the way he's performed well throughout the life of it as he enters his last year four years 50 million like that money though Greg like that puts him like in line with what like number two wide receivers get right I mean he for so what these true star players are saying is like if you're going to pay out a wide receiver, I think that's the closest positional group in terms of playmaker on the offense that makes the team go. Why are we not getting paid like these wideouts or even guys

that are below the top tier wideouts? Why are we in a lower class? It's just a positional group screw job. It's like the Montreal screw job of a roster payout. Yeah. I think people, I think the fact that it's not just PFF. It's people who think like PFF that work for NFL buildings, just think wide receiver is twice as valuable a position. Hmm. Don't think that's true, but okay. Yeah, I just think that's the thinking that has gone into it, that they just think wide receivers are more important.

All right, give us one more, Greg. Here we go, baby. Okay, I'm a little shook about the Cowboys' offense in general, the way Mike McCarthy talks in general, the fact that he hired Brian Schottenheimer and Mike Solari Schottenheimer, enough said Solari has been on the Cowboys

coaching staff previously it was under Tom Landry that's how long their offensive line coach has been around like this is as old school as it gets and then specifically when it comes to McCarthy a little shook how they're like looking at this offensive line right now. Tyler Swift was probably the best left tackle that was a rookie in the league

last year better than the two top 10 picks um and they're probably going to play him at guard because like tyron smith doesn't really fit at right tackle and he's a future hall of famer and then they have terran steel who's coming off of right and they just think like okay we can get our best five out here if we put our rookie back at guard it just it all feels a little weird like conservative thinking and if you've got a a rookie left tackle that plays that well Moving him around because of like an oft-injured couple of veterans doesn't make a lot of sense. And just really supports the conservative thinking, I would say, that's going on in Dallas. It has me a little worried.

Has me shook. I mean, they kind of ran into this situation last year. This is what they dealt with. I was the succession plan. All right, he's going to play guard, and then Tyron's going to retire, and Tyler's going to take over. And, you know, wrench was thrown into the plans. I agree with you, but I also see their logic to get the best five out there. My only thing is that Jason Peters ended up in this starting lineup last year because of this, right?

Like, you've got to plan a little bit better than they have for similar scenarios when you have an oft-injured tackle like Tyrant Smith. So I, yeah, I'm more shook about the fact that Mike McCarthy's calling place than anything, that he's taking over the offense and decided to split with Kellan Moore in an acrimonious way. And we already know that he struggles with managing the clock sometimes. So, I mean, you're on the line now. Wait, are they going to run more? Talks like they're just going to run more, but they already were running too much ineffectively. And now they don't really have any depth behind Pollard

who's coming off a serious injury. It's a little weird. We'll see. Zeke's going to end up back there, it feels like, right? It just feels like for a team that is conservative and how they're kind of rolling this plan out, wouldn't they bring back the guy that knows their scheme that they could trust to whether there's blocking assignments

or know how they like to run the football? Maybe it's Dalman Cook, as we talked about, on Monday. But Zeke at a much reduced rate, giving them a little security blanket, feels in line with the kind of ethos of where they're at right now offensively. I'd feel differently about them if they signed Cook. I think that'd be the best spot for him. Maybe Kareem Hunt even, but someone. One of those guys makes sense.

We'll be doing our annual head coach hot butt rankings in a couple weeks. And McCarthy is an interesting one because I'm just one thing I'm not. not sure about is what constitutes an acceptable level of success for McCarthy to have another year on the sidelines. Like, what is Jera expecting from this team? I mean, he's expecting a Super Bowl because he's Jera. But like what would be deemed a fireable offense in terms of a bottom line result for the 2023 Cowboys, kind of stick a pin in that, but I think it's a nice little plot line

in the NFC. Yeah, I think getting ready of your offensive coordinator exposes you to that. makes it something that we definitely have to watch for sure good call that is one of those things like when you're trying to figure out how safe a coach is if they made a coordinator change that's kind of using their mulligan if you will uh that's their little protection card and once that's done you're more in the firing line um all right shookie damn man you've said it all i feel like we learned a lot about nick uh today gregg um i feel i feel closer to nick and i feel like we should keep Nick in the mix beyond the Sunday Night Flagship program based on

I just I like the guy I don't know I just like the guy I mean same I don't know if people I mean we go back pretty far with Nick how when when were you hired Nick I mean the first time or the second time the first time because I I believe I was the one who did the hiring I hired I hired I hired Nick shook back in the day way back in the year 2014 so like we've got that's what I realize, like, Dan, we've been around at this company a long time. You've been around even longer, but we've both, we've both been there. We've been doing this job a lot. Like, I still think of Shook and Patrick Claibon, for instance, is like, oh, yeah, they're kind of new arrivals. It's like, no, it's been nine years now for both of them. We're like two, like,

old-ass, like Gandalf wizard types, just like survivors that see everyone as kids at this point. Right. But in reality, Shook's been here, been there most of the time we have, too. I'm not going to lie I'm shook by the passage of time When I walk in the newsroom And the one time I go out to L.A. every 18 to 24 months And I see one of the younger DCPs I am also shook because that was once me

I remember Shook You know you might have hired Shook NFL But I also signed Shook to a softball contract And his lovely Are you guys married now? I know you're engaged now Yeah

As soon to be wife when they were just young pups Like just falling in love on the softball field and saying, wow, these kids got a chance as we, you know, just roared to our second consecutive championship in Los Angeles. I was going through some stuff in my basement a couple weeks ago and pulled out my jersey and my championship shirt. Gorgeous. We were actually the free agent class. You were like, you were like, I'm trying to think of a great GM in history. You know, you were making some great signings that year. me and Shook really added to the, added to the mix made sure you didn't fall off.

It was, you know, it was, uh, that's why I always called West Mike and Sigliari, um, because we put a little more thought into the roster construction than people might have realized, um, during work hours, probably you were the boss at the time, Greg, so we probably hit it from you. But, uh, you know, there was, you know, a lot of discussion. What's the best version of the team? And when Shook hit the scene with those shoulders and the biceps, You're like, oh, we just found our number five hitter. I mean, we just found a middle of the honor presence. And then your fiancé, she was an athletic.

A woman is like, oh, we just found another winner here. So it was like a double ringer signing of the Shook family. Packaged deal, but I have one question for you, Dan. When you were working with Wes on really charting this out and envisioning a championship, not only winning but defending roster, were you a spreadsheet guy or were you a magnet on the board type of thing? Magnet on the board, big time. Yeah.

we don't we don't pop the hood uh with softball we just said who who's a good hang uh who played uh sports at any time in their life yeah who who can we count on to pay umpire fees that's going to intimidate the other team exactly that's a big factor a big reason for the shield success was we were not a 25 cabs 25 guys at the end of the day uh type team uh and uh shook you were a great addition uh i was always happy to be part of it all right that's it uh for another edition of the NFL will be back like we said first show in first week in a while Greg we're going to be doing three shows next week as as training camp kicks off an earnest across the league so make sure you're there for that any oh final oh just in time before I say goodbye here guys I have an official

statement from Bob Bates DDS retired on the Denzel Mim Mimzerra in New York You guys ready for this? All right. Official statement. I'm really surprised and disappointed. He didn't make not only a big impact on the Jets, but also becoming a big-time star. I hope the change in scenery with the Lions will give him a shot of becoming that star. With Mimsa's size and adequate speed, he should help them.

I haven't given up on him. There it is. I got to say if you're Bob Bates, the Lions might be your number one draft pick. If ever there was a spot that Mims could make the team, maybe make some impact with James and Williams out at the beginning of the season as kind of their deep threat guy. This is his chance, but I guess I'm not as optimistic, but I hope I'm wrong. All right, there we go. And it should be noted on the way out the door.

Eric Roberts just chimed in our producer, myself, Randy, big Randy behind the scenes, and Sean Kelly won the softball championship last season with the NFL 2 squad. How about that? So the next generation carries on the dynasty. Unbelievable. Thank you. I want to know who is the George Seiferts of your Bill Walsh, Dan. That's a good question.

Another time, another discussion. All right. Until next week, he's the call. This is an I-heart podcast.